Chicago Pizza Wars Heats Up With Rumored Giordano's Houston Expansion

A celebrated Chicago pizzeria may be headed to Houston. Per a flyer from Houston-based commercial real estate firm Transwestern: "Giordano's...has selected Houston as one of its next growth markets".

It would appear this follows expansion plans previously mentioned by Richard Levy, a managing partner of Victory Park Capital Advisors which purchased Giordano's in 2011. In a 2012 interview with ESPN, Levy commented on the pizzeria's success in Texas and California stating, "...the company seeks to branch out, first to the Midwest and in "Big Ten" college cities and eventually to other states notably California and Texas."

Calls and emails to Giordano's and Transwestern for further information weren't immediately returned. If true, however, Houston would be the first in Texas to have a Giordano's. 

The 40-year-old Chicago-based pizza chain has locations in the Greater Chicago area and three in Florida. Already expected to open five stores in the Windy City this year, it's speculated Houston will have several locations to come over the next few years. The flyer notes that Giordano's will target the Galleria area, Upper Kirby, West University, and The Woodlands.

The news comes on the heels of Gino's East's move to the Lone Star state. A hiring post discovered in August revealed Gino's East, another Chicago-based pizzeria, and ATX Brands— parent company of the trademarked breastaurant, Bikinis— searching for managers in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth and The Woodlands.

Although Gino's East is a true deep-dish pizza and Giordano's considered more of a stuffed pizza, they're rivals nevertheless. In a city deprived of a wide selection of Chicago-style pizza, this could be the start of some pretty great pizza wars.

Got intel? Do send a note through the tipline.